Richard Raul Heller, 59, pleaded guilty to a count of second-degree manslaughter for the 2017 death of Perleen June Bode, a long time Bremerton resident and retired Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employee. Heller was described as both Bode’s intimate partner and caretaker, as she was in poor health. Investigators at first believed Bode died from chronic lung disease and congestive heart failure.

Testimony was expected to begin next week.

More evidence introduced

The plea came after prosecutors were given permission last week by Judge Jennifer Forbes to introduce evidence of prior domestic violence allegations Bode made against Heller. Among the many allegations, Bode claimed during a 2011 call to 911 that she was "afraid of Heller because he has lethal hands, he could kill her if he wanted to and she is afraid he will hurt her in her sleep.”

Heller was never convicted of a domestic violence assault against Bode, but in 2012 a judge granted her a protection order against Heller after she alleged he had abused her.

The maximum sentence for second-degree manslaughter is about three years, but Chief Deputy Prosecutor Chad Enright said part of the plea agreement would allow Judge Jennifer Forbes to exceed the maximum sentence for that crime. When Heller is sentenced July 23, prosecutor will ask Forbes to sentence Heller to 70 months, or about six years.

Enright declined to elaborate on the plea deal at this time.

What happened

On Jan. 5, 2017, Heller called 911 and said he believed Bode had died during the night. He denied he killed Bode and said he loved her, telling Bremerton police during an interview that she had fallen.

“I believe all things considered that I did my best to care for her,” Heller wrote in a statement to police.

Two autopsies found Bode died of a broken neck and had sustained severe spinal cord injuries. The doctor who performed the second autopsy found evidence of manual strangulation, according to documents.

Heller was first charged with second-degree murder after his arrest in March 2017. In the lead-up to trial, prosecutors filed the first-degree murder charge.

Heller’s attorneys indicated an expert witness would testify that the findings by the two pathologists did not take into consideration a substance found in Bode’s body during an autopsy that showed she had been injured prior to the night of January 4, 2017 when Heller said he and Bode were alone together in their apartment.

Forbes characterized the trial as a battle between experts.

Bode was a 1968 graduate of East High School, according to her obituary.

“A woman full of life, love and happiness, she enjoyed listening to music, car rides, making new friends and spending time with the ones she loved,” loved ones wrote in her obituary. “She always brought joy and happiness to so many people.”